Our first installment of video interviews from the National Chess Congress (November 27-29, Philadelphia) feature GM-elect Alex Lenderman, GM Robert Hess, GM Alex Fishbein and FM Darwin Yang. Stay tuned for more in the Congress, including part II of the video interviews and co-winner Krush's written account.

GM-elect Alex Lenderman ended the tournament in a tie for first with IMs Irina Krush, Bryan Smith and GM Alex Stripunsky. Lenderman's tiebreaks gave him the 2009 National Chess Congress title and a bonus $100 over the $1400 that the other three winners received. He talked about escaping trouble against IM Bryan Smith.